A solitary shriek, the bubbling cry

Of some strong swimmer in his agony.

Lord Byron 1788-1824: Don Juan. Canto ii. Stanza 53.

The oracles are dumb,

No voice or hideous hum

Runs through the arched roof in words deceiving.

Apollo from his shrine

Can no more divine,

With hollow shriek the steep of Delphos leaving.

No nightly trance or breathed spell

Inspires the pale-eyed priest from the prophetic cell.

John Milton (1608-1674): Hymn on Christ's Nativity. Line 173.